Flatwork ironer



July 26, 1932. c v. MlLL lGAN 1,869,074

FLATWORK IRONER Filed Feb. 17 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. V. MILLIGAN FLATWORK IHONER July 26, 1932.

Filed Feb. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES CLIFFORD V. MILLIGAN, F HO' E TSTOIL'TEXAS FLATWORK IRONE'R Application filed February 17, 1930. Serial No. 429,000.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a flat work ironer.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, specially designed for the purpose of flat work, such as bed sheets, spreads, towels and the like in the process of laundering the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described 1 and'for the purpose stated that is of such construction that it may beautomat-ically operated, and that the operators thereof will not be liable to be injured thereby.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, opera tion, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 shows a plan view of the machine, with the feed apron removed.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the machine.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 1 shows a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the 39 drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates the bed of the machine whose upper surface is flat and smooth and has a yieldable pad 2 thereon. The bed is preferably hollow, providing a steam heating chamber 3 therein. The heating fluid may be supplied to said chamber through one of the pipes 4 and relieved therefrom through the other pipe 1. The

bed is supported on suitable legs, as 5.

Above the bed 2 there is a flat iron 6 also hollow, providing the steam heating chamber 7. Heating fluid may be delivered to said chamber 7 through one of the pipes 8 and relieved therefrom through the other pipe 8. The underside of the fiat iron 6 is flat and smooth and confronts, and coincides in position with, the pad 2.

The side margins of the flat iron have the outstanding lugs 9, having the vertical bearings 10 therethrough and upstanding from the side margins of the bed 1 are the guides 11 which extend through said bearings. Surrounding said guides and interposed between the bed 1 and the lugs 9 are the strong coil springs 12, which normally hold the flat iron spaced above the bed pad.

At the forward end of the machine there is a frame consisting of suitable supporting legs13 and side and end bars Hand 15.

This frame supports the upper transverse rollers 16 and the lower rollers 17 and at the opposite end of the machine is the upper transverse roller 18, and the legs 5 support the lower transverse rollers 19, one, at least, of which is vertically movable. An endless apron 20 is supported on and travels around said rollers as shown in Figure 2.

I The shafts of the rollers 16, 18 are extended, at one end, and have the sprockets 21 iixed thereon, and one of said shafts may be driven, 1n any sultable manner as by a motor 22 which drives the belt 23, which in turn operates over a pulley 24 fixed on said driven shaft. A sprocket chain 25 operates over the sprockets 21 and through this driving mechanism the feed apron 20 may be driven.

Mounted in bearings 26, on opposite sides of the bed 1 are the crank shafts 27, 27 whose wrists 28 are connected to the lugs 9 by means of the connecting rods 29.

t the ends of the bed 1 there are the fluid pressure cylinders 30, whose inner ends are pivoted to the corresponding brackets 31. Each cylinder has the usual piston therein and the outwardly extending piston rod 32 whose free end is pivotally connected to the free end of a depending arm 33, fixed to the adjacent end of the corresponding crank shaft 27. lines 34: for the admission of pressure fluid into the cylinders behind the pistons. When such fluid is thus admitted the pistons are forced outwardly and the crank shafts are partially rotated to pull the flat iron 6 downwardly onto the pad 2. 'When the pressureis released from said cylinders the springs 12 will elevate said flat iron 6.

In use the flat work to be ironed is fed onto the outer, or forward, end of the apron 20,

The cylinders 30 have the inlet l manually, a piece at a time and is carried by said apron onto the pad 2. The apron 20a is ,then stopped and pressure fluid is delivered into the cylinders 30 and the flat iron 6 is forced down onto the fiat Work, on said pad. Meanwhile hot steam is circulated through the chambers 3, 7 When the laundry on the pad is thus ironed the pressure is released from the cylinders 30 and the flat iron is 10 elevated through the springs, 12. The apron 20 is then started and the ironed laundry will be carried from the machine to be folded and another piece will be simultaneously delivered to the pad 2. w

In a practical embodiment of the machine provision will be made for automatically stopping and starting the apron as Well as for automatically applying the pressure fluid to, and releasing the-same from, the

cylinders 30 and these movements will be so synchronized that the apron will stop and start at regular intervals and the pressure fluid will be applied when the apron stops and relcasedwhen the apron is started.

The drawings and description disclose what isnow considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only While the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

lVhat I claim is 2-- A machine of the character described ineluding a supporting bed, an endless feed apron movable over the bed, a fiat iron above and adapted to cooperate with said bed,

means norinallyholding the flat iron spaced above the bed, crank shafts, connecting rods connecting said shafts to the flat iron, on

each side, means operable by fluid under pressure for rocking said shafts whereby the 40 fiat iron may be moved into cooperating relation With said bed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CLIFFORD V. MILLIGAN. 

